Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-01-27
No.. 9

jealousy. l was obliged to conceal it from
him. Nerer-promise me now-neuer do it
again
Mr.. Gashwiler gallantly protested.
"Nol am serious! 1 was sgitated; lie
must have seen me blush"
Nothing but the gross fattery of this speech
could have clouded its manifest absurdity to
the Gashwiler consciousness. But Mr.. Cash
wiler had already succumbed to the girlish
half timidity with which it was uttered.
Nevertheless, he could not help saying:
aBut why should he be SO jealous nowl
Only day before yesterday saw Simpson, Of
Duluth, hand you nosegay right before
himl"
"Ah," returned the lady, "he was outwardly
calm then, but you know nothing of the
scene that occurred between US after you
kft'
aBut," gasped the practical Gashwiler,
"Simpson had given your husband that con-
tract-a cool fifty thousand in his pocket~
Mrs. Hopkinson looked as dignifiedly at
Gashwiler as was consistent with five feet
three the extra three inches being pyramidai
structure of straw-colored hair, frond OF
faint curls, pair of laughing blue eyes and
| small belted waist. Then size said, with u
casting down of her lids:
"You forget that my husband loves me-"
and for once the mink appeared to look peni-
tent twas becoming; but as it had been
originally practiced in simple white dress,
relieved only with pale-blue ribbons, it was
not entirely in keeping with befounced laven-
der and rose-colored trimmings. Yet the
woman who hesitates between her moral eX-
preston and the harmony of her dress is lost.
And Mrs. Hopkinson was victrix by her very
audacity
Mr. Gashwiler was flattered. The most dis
solute man likes the appearance of virtue.
| "But graces and accomplishments like
yours, dear Mrs. Hopkinson," he said
oleaginously, "belong to the whole coun-
try" Which, with something between
a courtesy and strut, he endeavored to rep
resent "And I shall want ito avail myself
Of all, !" he added, 'in the matter of the Castro
claim A little supper at Welcker's, glass
or two of champagne, and single flash Of
those bright eyes, and the thing is done"
ised Josiah that would give up all those
frivolties, and, although my conscience is
clear, you know how people talk! Josiah
hears it. Why, only last night, at a recep-
ton at the Patagonian minister's, every
woman in the room gossiped about me be-
cause led the german with him. AS If
married woman, whose husband was in
terested in the government, could not be civil
to the representative of friendly power?"
Mr.. Gashwiler did not See how Mr.. Hop
kinsons late contract for supplying salt pork
and canned provisions to the army of the
United States should make his wife suscep-
tible to the advances of foreign princes; but
he prudently kept that to himself. Still, not
being himself q diplomat, he could not help
saying:
But understood that Mr.. Hopkinson did
not object to your interesting yourself in this
claim, and you know some of the stock -"
The lady started, and said:
''Stock Dear Mr.. Gashwiler, for heavens
sake don't mention that hideous name to me-
Stock, I am sick of it, Have you gentlemen
no other topic for lady?'
She punctuated her sentence with a mis-
chievous look at her interlocutor For a
second time, l regret to say, that Mr.. Cash
wier succumbed. The Roman constituency
at Remus, it is to be hoped, were happily
ignorant of this last detection of their great
legislator. Mr.. Gashwiler instantly forgot
his theme began to ply the lady with a cer-
tain bovine-hke gallantry, which it is to be
said to her credit she parried with-a playful,
terrier-like dexterity, when the servant sud-
denly announced, "Mr Wilesn
Gashwiler started Not so Mrs. Hopkin-
son, who, however, prudently and quietly re-
moved her own chair several inches from
Gashwilers.
"Do you know Mr. Wiles?" she asked pleas
antly
NO! That is, I-ah-yes, l may say I
have had some business relations with him.
responded Gashwiler rising.
wont you stay?" she added pleadingly.
"Do"
Mr.. Gashwiler's prudence always go5 the
better of his gallantry. "Not now," he re-
sponded i'll some nervousness. Perhaps I
had better go now, in view of what you have
just said about gossip. You need not men,
ton my name to this-er-this-Mr Wiles"
And with one eye on the door, and an awk-
ward dash of his lips at the lady's fingers he
withdrew
There was no Introductory formula to Mr..
Wiles' interview. He dashed at once in me-
dias res. "Gashwier knows a woman that.
he says, can help US against the Spanish girl
who is coming here with proofs, prettiness,
fascination, and what notl You must find
her out"
"Why!" asked the lady laughingly
Because don't trust that GasIiwiler A
woman with pretty face and an ounce of
brains could sell him out; aye, and us with
him."
@Oh, say two ounces of brains. Mr.. Wiles,
Mr.. Gashwiler is no fool"
Possibly, except when your sex is con.
cerned, and it is very likely that the woman
is his superior"
II should think So" said Mrs Hopkinson
with a mischievous look
"Ah, you know her. then"
"Not SO well as know him." said Mrs. II.
quite seriously. II wish did"
"Well, you'll find out if she's to lie trusted.
You are laughing-this is serious matterl
This woman-n
Mrs. Hopkinson dropped him charming
courtesy and said,
"C'est moiI"
TO BE CONTINUED